On the afternoon of May 20, 2010, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu held a regular press conference and answered questions.

Ma Zhaoxu started with an announcement:

At the invitation of President Hu Jintao, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil of the Republic of India will pay a state visit to China from May 26 to 31. President Patil's visit will be the first visit to China by an Indian head of state in a decade. During her visit, President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and CPPCC Chairman Jia Qinglin will have talks or meetings with her respectively. Besides Beijing, President Patil will also visit cities of Luoyang and Shanghai, attend the inauguration ceremony of an Indian-style Buddhist temple at the White Horse Temple and visit venues of the Shanghai World Expo.

Ma Zhaoxu answered the question of journalists on the Cheonan Ship.

Q: Today the ROK Government released the investigation results of the Cheonan Ship. How does China comment?

A: The sinking of the ship is a tragic event. After the incident, the Chinese side has expressed its condolences and sympathy over the casualties of the ROK on many occasions, which fully shows China's understanding and sympathy toward the grief of the ROK Government and people.

China has noted the investigation results released by the ROK. We maintain that all parties should stay calm, exercise restraint and properly handle relevant issues so as to avoid the escalation of the situation.

I want to stress that China has always viewed and treated international and regional issues on their own merits in a fair and objective manner. We have all along stood for and committed to regional peace and stability. We will continue to push forward the Six-Party Talks and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and oppose behaviors against such efforts.